World Champion Philippine Dragon Boat Federation (PDBF) competes in the 10th International Dragon Boat World Championships in Tampa, Florida

The Philippine Dragon Boat Federation (PDBF) is set to compete in the 10th International Dragon Boat World Championships from August 3-7, 2011 at Tampa, Florida, USA. Cobra Energy Drink (official partner of PDBF), together with Philippine Airlines (official carrier to the international competition), held a send-off press con luncheon at Capone’s at A-Venue in Makati City on July 29, 2011 to rally support for the back-to-back world champs. 

Headed by Team Captain Usman Anterola,  the 25 champion paddlers are a mix of Philippine Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guards personnel, and reinforced by the best civilian women paddlers. Our Philippine Team will leave for Florida on August 1.

Sipat Lawin Ensemble presents "Haring +Ubu-L XXX" in CCP (Aug 4-6, 2011)

Sipat Lawin Ensemble presents the New and Improved Haring +Ubu-L XXX on August 4 (8pm), August 5-6, 2011 (3pm and 8pm) at the Tanghalang Huseng Batute of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

In SEASON 2000-Xi, the renegade theater company revisits its adaptation of French Playwright Alfred Jarre’s avant-garde play UbuRoi through a new devised work at the Center.

An interactive, explosive, fun, filthy, powerplay, Haring +ubu-l aims to revisit, re-investigate, remind, and re-expose the subject of excesses and exploits as represented by the performers, the audiences and their consciousness. Sipat Lawin takes Jarre’s classic piece, considered one of the precursors to the theatre of the absurd and plays with it further.  Setting the entire piece within a toilet bowl, HARING +UBU-L XXX spews out the filth, greed, avarice, gluttony and ambition of society.  The audience is caught up in the entire spectacle as theater’s classic fourth wall is broken down and spectators join the actors in the highly interactive work.   A supreme example of the Theater of Cruelty, discomfort substitutes escape inside the performance space.
         

9 Works Theatrical's "Sweet Charity" (Aug 5-27, 2011)

9 Works Theatrical proudly presents Sweet Charity, Broadway’s most sensational spectacle and critically-acclaimed dance comedy musical. It is set in the 1960’s in a night club in Manhattan. Follow the groove and dance to the beat beginning August 5, 2011 at 8pm.

Sweet Charity (book by Neil Simon, music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Dorothy Fields, and conceived, staged and choreographed by Bob Fosse whose name is synonymous to “All That Jazz” and “Chicago”) is about a taxi dancer’s adventures and misadventures in the ways of love and who always gives her heart, and her earnings, to the wrong man.

Sweet Charity was originally directed and choreographed by Bob Fosse when it premiered in Broadway in 1966. With over 600 performances, the production won the Tony Award for Best Choreography in the same year before opening in London a year later. A 1969 film version of Sweet Charity starred Shirley MacLaine; a Broadway revival in 2005 featured Christine Applegate.

Sweet Charity follows the misadventures of dance-hall hostess Charity Hope Valentine, a woman who believes in that swoony, goopy, look into your eyes forever kind of love. In a desperate attempt to find Mr. Right, she always ends up giving her heart and her dreams to the wrong man.

 
According to Robbie Guevara who is directing Sweet Charity, “This is one production that is a musical in every sense of the word. It's a dancing show, too, with great opportunity for use of dramatic movement. And with Cy Coleman’s rhythms and sounds, and Dorothy Fields’ vernacular fun of 1960’s New York, there will be all-time great show-stopping numbers that will really sizzle.”

Cy Coleman's music has jazzy and blues influence as well as inspiring ballads, featuring such hits as “ Hey, Big Spender,”  “If My Friends Could See Me Now ” and “ The Rhythm of Life. ” The techno, percussion orchestrations tie in beautifully with Dorothy Field's lively and witty lyrics. And with a pit orchestra under Musical Director and Conductor Joseph Tolentino and Musical Director for Vocals Sweet Plantado, expect the musical’s stupendous jazzy score to be delivered with flair.

The Main Cast:

 (left) NIKKI GIL as Charity Hope Valentine, a kooky, feisty, punchy and a bubbly dance hall hostess in New York. (right) KRIS LAWRENCE as Oscar Lindquist, a claustrophobic, wimpy nervous man who Charity befriends in a stalled elevator. 

(left) SHIELA VALDERRAMA-MARTINEZ as Nickie, one of Charity’s closest confidantes at the Fandango Ballroom. (right) CIARA SOTTO as Helene, another close confidante of Charity’s. 

   

(left) SHEREE BAUTISTA as Carmen, one of Charity’s co-dancers. (right) MIGUEL FAUSTMANN as Herman, the authoritarian owner of the Fandango Ballroom and Charity's boss. 

(left) OJ MARIANO plays the dual role of Vittorio Vidal, the charming, egotistical and confident Italian film star, and Daddy Johann Sebastian Brubeck, the enigmatic leader of the Rhythm of Life Church. (right) ANGELA PADILLA as Ursala March, the melodramatic actress and Vittorio's girlfriend.

The Ensemble:

 Caisa Borromeo    |   Chinie Nepomuceno

Vinia Pamplona   |   Carmelle Ros

Topper Fabregas   |   Job Bautista

Francis Matheu    |    Anthony Tarrosa Ong

Chai Relucio   |   Peter Alcedo

The Artistic Team:

Robbie Guevara (Director)

Lorenz Martinez (Assistant Director)

Joseph Tolentino (Musical Director – Pit Orchestra)

Sweet Plantado (Musical Director – Vocals)

Mio Infante (Scenographer)

Martin Esteva (Lighting Designer)

Mio Infante and Hanna De los Reyes (Costume Stylists and Designers)

Dale Amon (Graphic Designer)

Roy Macam (Photographer)

The Production Team: 

Santi Santamaria (Executive Producer)

Anna Santamaria (Company Manager)

Toff de Venecia (Marketing & PR Director)

Toots Tolentino (PR Consultant)

Jonjon Martin (PR Manager)

Carlos Canlas (HR Manager)

Sunshine Domine (Production Manager)

Aries Alcayaga (Stage Manager)

Sweet Charity runs from August 5 to 27, 2011 at Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Ayala Corner Sen. Gil Puyat Avenues, Makati City.


• Friday: 8pm or 830pm
• Saturday: 330pm & 8pm
• Sunday: 4pm

A limited number of performances are available for fundraising and block-buying. For more info, please call (632) 557-5860, 586-7105 or +63.917.5545560 or email info@9workstheatrical.com.  

Sweet Charity is presented by 9 Works Theatrical in cooperation with The Rockwell Club. Made Possible with Make Up For Ever and Café Mediterranean. Also brought to you by Dusit Thani Manila and Chocolate Schubar. Media Partners include The Lifestyle Network, Velvet Channel, Metro Magazine, Maven Magazine, Business World and Focus Media Audiovisuals. With special participation of Movement Dance Studio and Opus. It is produced by, arrangement with, and the music and dialogue material furnished by Tams-Witmark Music Library, Inc. Based on the original screenplay by Federico Fellini, Tullio Pinelli and Ennio Plaiano; produced for the Broadway Stage by Fryer, Carr and Harris.

Philippine Stagers Foundation's "Cory ng EDSA: A Filipino Musical" (July 31-Oct 16, 2011)

The Philippine Stagers Foundation (PSF) stages their newest musical play, Cory ng EDSA: A Filipino Musical, that premiered on July 16, 2011 at St. Cecilia’s Hall, St. Scholastica’s College, Manila. The musical runs until October 16, 2011.

Cory ng Edsa tells the story of Corazon C. Aquino through the eyes of Peter, a reporter who followed her life amidst all the struggles her family and our country was going through. Anyone who has lived in the 1980’s and who has witnessed the EDSA Uprising in 1986 can definitely connect to the story of Cory and how she fought for our freedom and became our country’s president.

K-On! Trivia Question for the Week #3 and win Animax goody bag

K-On! Trivia Question For The Week promo

Week #3: July 25 – July 29
Submission of Entry deadline:  August 5 (Friday, 5pm)

Our cutest girl band finally has a name! Hokago Team Time girls end up in crazy adventures with Ritsu and Yui getting sick and the cute band playing finally for an encore performance. With the cold weather moving in, the girls also end up being busy with various household and personal tasks; Mio tries to come up with lyrics for a new song and Azusa struggles to take care of a kitten.

Artists gather together for 2nd Artbike on August 6, 2011

 Leaving Vargas Museum after the briefing 

Photo by Raven Cycles

Visual artists gather together for the 2nd Artbike where they bike together swinging by the art galleries in Bonifacio Global City (Taguig City), Pasong Tamo (Makati) and various other sites in Makati City. This will be held on August 6, 2011 from 8:00 am to 12:30 pm.

K-On! Trivia Question for the Week #2 and win Animax goody bag

K-On! Trivia Question For The Week promo

Week 2: July 18 – 22

Submission of Entry deadline: July 29 (Friday)

It’s time once again for our weekly Animax K-On! contest.

Last week, we saw how the girls enjoyed their summer vacation in Tsumugi’s beachside villa and the Christmas festivities they celebrated in Yui’s house. Oh and what an embarrassing experience for Mio, tripping in front of the entire audience after their amazing performance in the school assembly! 

International Contact Center Conference & Expo 2011 (August 2-3)

Contact Center Association of the Philippines (CCAP) holds International Contact Center Conference & Expo 2011 (ICCCE 2011) to be held at SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City on August 2 & 3, 2011.

ICCCE 2011 combines an industry conference tackling major industry issues and trends, a training and development program for contact center professionals, an exhibit of the latest products and solutions, and a career fair for industry professionals and fresh graduates.

"If Rizal Were a Blogger" Essay Writing Contest

Anvil Publishing, Philippine Daily Inquirer and National Bookstore hold an essay writing contest with the theme, "If Rizal were a blogger, what would he have blogged about?" This is still in conjunction with Rizal's 150th birthday celebration. But winning entries will be published in the Inquirer beginning December 30, 2011 (Rizal Day) forward.

CONTEST MECHANICS:

The contest is open to all Filipino students 14 to 18 years of age attending public or private high schools in the Philippines.

1. To compete, a high school student must:
a)   Personally research about the experiences and works of Jose Rizal as a novelist and journalist.
b)  Write an essay with at least 800 words entitled: If Rizal were a blogger, what would he have blogged about?

2. Each entry should be an original, unpublished, logical, cohesive, and fluently developed essay written by one student. The student must write about the issues and concerns of Rizal during his time. A student may submit only one entry.

Repertory Philippines' "Seussical" (Aug 13-Dec 18, 2011)

Repertory Philippines Children's Theater celebrates 19 years of producing well-loved musicals for children of all ages. It proudly announces its 2011 offering with the staging of Seussical, a musical full of fantasy, magic & wonder that will surely delight children's imagination. The story is based on the works of celebrated author Theodor Geisel, also known as Dr. Seuss.

Directed by Joy Virata, the show’s book, music, and lyrics are handled by the Tony award-winning team of  Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty. Eric Idle co-conceived the show.

"Noli Me Tangere The Musical" opens Tanghalang Pilipino's Silver Year (Aug 5-28, 2011)

As part of Jose Rizal's 150th birthday, Noli Me Tangere: The Musical officially opens Tanghalang Pilipino’s Silver Theater Season, as co-presented by the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines. The show begins on August 5, 2011 at the CCP Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino.

The critically acclaimed musical adapted by Ryan Cayabyab from Rizal's most famous work will be restaged, with libretto by National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera and under the direction of theater luminary Audie Gemora. Costume design is by National Artist for Theater Design Salvador Bernal. 

Cinemalaya Goes UP Year 7

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On its 7th year, the UP CINEASTES' STUDIO brings the hottest films of the Cinemalaya Philippine Film Festival to the University of the Philippines, Diliman.

Catch these films running for two straight weeks at UP Film Center on JULY 26-29 and AUGUST 2-5, 2011. Don't miss the chance to meet the directors of these films and get the opportunity to hear them speak.

For reservations: contact +639272990318. Tickets @ P80

Collect the Coca-Cola Can Glasses from McDonald's

The Coca-Cola Company and McDonald’s Corporation partnered once again to offer consumers in Asia Pacific a series of colored Coca-Cola can glasses. The Coca-Cola can glass is a new creation in the Asia Pacific region and will be available at McDonald’s in thirteen (13) countries only – Singapore, China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Macau, The Philippines, Malaysia, Pakistan, Tahiti, Fiji and New Caledonia.

McDonald’s has been collaborating with Coca-Cola since 1955. The fast food chain offers customers for a limited time, the chance to collect these quality Coca-Cola can glasses in six colors – Pink, Green, Blue, Lime, Charcoal and Purple. Consumers can collect the glasses from May to July 2011.

Deadline to Everyone's Vision Petron Art Competition: July 25, 2011

Submission for entries to Everyone's Vision Petron: Lakbay Pinoy, a national student art competition, is set for Monday, 25 July 2011.  

Themed Lakbay Pinoy —Journeys to Remember, Pathways to Rediscover, this year’s competition focuses on life journeys expressed symbolically by roads, highways and byways.  It can be a mountain path representing a journey to success, or a zigzag lane symbolizing seasons of change.  It can be a forest trail sparking childhood memories, or a nostalgic route conjuring reminiscences of student life.

Everyone’s Vision Petron is open to all talented students enrolled in a regular university or college course, or in tutorial and photography classes.  Student artists may compete in three categories:  Painting (oil and water-based media), photography, and t-shirt design.

Answer K-On! Trivia Questions For The Week and win Animax goody bag

K-On! Trivia Question For The Week promo

Week 1: July 11 –15
Submission of Entry deadline: July 22 (Friday)

An exciting treat for all Animax viewers! Get your K-On! Fever on as we let you in on a chance to win an exciting and awesome Animax goody bag! All you need to do is simply enjoy watching K-On! episodes and answer the trivia questions for the week.

Last week on K-On!, we saw how our four girls were able to finally bring the pop music club back up and how Yui puts up with the challenge of becoming a good guitar player for the band. 


Trivia Question for the Week:

“What brand of guitar did the girls buy from the store for Yui?”

Catch "Varekai" of Cirque du Soleil on its last weekend

Everyone is talking about Varekai, Cirque du Soleil’s initial salvo in Manila, Philippines. Since it premiered last June 2011, the Canadian-based entertainment company has definitely captured the hearts of the Filipino audience with the show’s fantastical creatures, enchanting music, colorful costumes and unique acts like Icarian Games, Aerial Straps, Russian Swings, and Georgian Dance. Varekai has become the buzz word that represents a spectacular and amazing show. 

I can definitely attest that Varekai is one of the best shows I've seen so far and Cirque du Soleil is just marvelous! The cast would always get a standing ovation after every performance.

Rizal Awards: Call for Nomination

In history, we look at the significance of all the people who fought for the freedom that we are all enjoying now. We look at their contributions to society, what made them distinct and what made them particularly special. Out of the hundreds of heroes, popular or unsung, who risked their lives for the country’s freedom, one person stood out with his writings and inspirational ways. - Dr. Jose Rizal -  

This year, as we celebrate 150 years of Rizal’s greatness, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines calls for nominations to the Rizal Awards. It is being extended to individuals and groups that:

(1) Spearheaded projects that  support the Rizalian concept of love of country and fulfillment of our duties of citizenship;

(2) Achieved meritorious individual recognition in various professions, which promote, teach and disseminate the same through proven competence leading to the general benefit of the individual, community, and the country at large in the light of Rizal’s teaching and way of life; and

(3) Promoted and encouraged civic and citizenship responsibility as model citizens—incorruptible patriots with the virtue of resisting temptations and misuse of wealth, influence, rank, or power.

adidas products for kids featuring Cars & Daisy Duck

Kids will surely delight these new products of adidas with designs from the animated film, Cars. I saw the film in 2007 and the characters in Cars really made me cry! Boys and girls alike will love the t-shirts, jackets, bags, caps & jogging pants made by adidas. 

Below you will also find the Daisy Duck adidas products made especially for girls (t-shirts, jackets & jogging pants).

Love Japan: A Fundraising Bazaar (July 23-24)

The Rockwell Community, composed of Rockwell Land, Rockwell Club, Power Plant Mall and the Rockwell Center, invites everyone to Love Japan, a one-of-a-kind bazaar and auction on July 23-24, 2011 for the benefit of Japan’s rehabilitation following the devastating earthquake earlier this year.

Power of Pen 3: Food & Travel Writing Workshop (July 28-29)

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POWER OF PEN, A food & travel writing workshop with the Icons!

Unleash your talent and join this very interesting event that will help shape your future in Food/ Travel Writing, Food Styling & Photography from July 28-29, 2011.

For more information on how to join, please call STRAM, INC at : (632) 9277208 or 352 3187.

Rizal Lecture Series at Yuchengco Museum (July 16, 23, 30)

 

From Yuchengco Museum:

A series of lectures is offered by Yuchengco Museum exploring different dimensions to our National Hero, Jose Rizal. For three Saturday afternoons in July, learn more about Rizal's influence on Southeast Asian history and culture, and whether Rizal's destiny as a martyr was written in the stars.

All talks are free with museum admission. To register, call (632) 889-1234 or email info@yuchengcomuseum.org. Yuchengco Museum is located at RCBC Plaza, Corner Ayala and Sen. Gil J. Puyat Avenues, Makati City.

Dell and Intel launch new laptops (Latitude E, Vostro 3000, XPS 15z & Inspiron R series)

With the growing demand of changes and development in technology and computing, it is Dell's commitment to serve the needs of its clients. Dell launched 4 new additions to its laptop family: Latitude E, Vostro 3000, XPS 15z and Inspiron R series. This new innovation will give users an enhanced security and mobile experience. 

adidas Originals featured for July 2011

Elegant adidas shoes (Porche Design)

Cesar Hernando’s "Mula Sa Mga Aninong Gumagalaw": A Photography Exhibition (July 15-Aug 28, 2011)

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Photography and cinema have been partners in recording memories, art and history of a generation and nation. I marvel the efforts of photographers of preserving the images shot during the shoot of a movie. Photographer's role is significant in the process of recording the story behind the scenes and during the takes. Now, witness Cesar Hernando's works that span 3 decades in cinema in an exhibit.